2006-07-19
There is little need to introduce this Canadian band, the alter-ego of one Devin Townsend, since those who looked for that “heaviest band on the planet” probably stumbled upon it (or more likely their last album “Alien”) along with those who got into it through
The Devin Townsend Band or other albums Townsend was involved in, but hey, some must’ve got to it by chance.
Strapping Young Lad’s 5th full length hits the ears without holding back, just like any other SYL album, but with a different twist; unlike 2005’s ultra-heavy “Alien” or the industrialized “City” (1997), “The new black” attacks different regions.
The Canadian extremists were never an “easy-listening” band, nor where they exactly metal (or exactly industrial, or exactly anything); it has always been about blending different kinds of aggression, but with this album a new element was added in – Melody.
The Thrashing riffs of the opener, “Decimator”, are kinda misleading, for the following lead and Townsend’s clean vocals take the song to a different direction (which can roughly be described as a magically twisted rollercoaster ride with g-force challenging turns).
“You suck” is a lot closer to what we know and love from SYL, Gene Hoglan goes machinegun on his drums while Townsend fits his incrazed vocals to the hilariously ridicules lyrics – it’s the chorus that deserves most praise in this case. “Antiproduct” enters without warning, just like “You suck” did, but has different strokes – influenced by those of
Mr. Bungle perhaps – and its relative slowness, compared to SYL in general, doesn’t offend its status as one of the highlights.
Other highlights are “Far beyond metal”, with its superve riffing and flow (where Devin really bullseyed with the catchy melodies and the guest appearance of Gwar’s vocalist Oderus Urungus), and “Fucker”, with the guest appearance of the Canadian singer Bif Naked doing somewhat of a Devin Townsend impression on the base of superve songwriting.
It is clearly evident that Townsend’s own band has influenced his writing on the questionably-soon-to-be-disbanded Strapping Young Lad – this can be heard throughout the album, but is the boldest on “Antiproduct”, “Monument”, “Hope” and “Almost again”
Even choosing to close the album with the duo of “Plyophony” (an intero, with all kinds of electronic noises to accompany the vocals and vigilant instrumental composition) and the title track, “The new black”, which starts so well with that forceful slow thrashing riff & tempo, seems to be connected. This band hasn’t lost its uniqueness, but things changed (and not for the better, in my opinion).
“The new black” is an odd bird in both metal and SYL’s discography, being similar yet very different. It seems as if this is the post-climax release, an attempt to reheat a woman after she’s had multiple orgasms – it won’t work unless she’s a nymphomaniac, just as this album won’t top its predecessors. For those of you with high stamina.
Ofer Vayner
